Yokou was somehow still conscious, and screaming loudly. It was rather telling that no one, not even the guards, came over to help him.

Gemini was watching intently, wondering how such a technique was done. She also wondered if she could do it, though she knew her father would probably never teach her. "He won't live much longer. I hope it hurts."

Naruto looked away. As much as he hated the man, he wasn't one to ever take pleasure in someone else's suffering. It just wasn't his nature.

Kyuubi had heard his daughter's comments and nodded lightly. "Exactly. He'll be dead soon by the acids within his own body. A fitting death for a bastard like him," he replied as he let the energy coursing through his faux body and the technique die down before he went back into the seal. "Kit, he'll be dead within a matter of minutes. You can leave if you want with Yugito-chan."

Naruto nodded, looking slightly tired. Thanks. For everything. He thought. "Gemini-chan...as long as you're okay, I'm gonna head out. I'm supposed to be training right now." He said.

Gemini smiled at her blonde friend. "I'll be fine. Thank you, Naruto-kun. And Father, too. I'm going to stay here for a bit and make sure he dies." She told him.

Yokou fell to the ground, unable to move as the poison ravaged his body, causing him the most intense pain any person could ever imagine. "B-bitch...I hope you die..."

"Then I'll make sure to stay alive, just to spite you. Shut up and suffer already. You're ruining the moment."

(*snickers* You're ruining the moment. nice touch)

"If you could tell her that she is welcome and to have fun watching his demise," he said, hoping that Naruto would do that before leaving.

"From what I've seen...he deserves to suffer, but don't tell him I said that," Yugito added before heading after Naruto. Once outside, she was blessed with the old hermit once more, having a feeling that was talking to Naruto about something.

Naruto relayed the message to Gemini before leaving. He was tired, but not as much this time as before. "Okay, let's get back to training. I see what you meant about the clones, Ero-Sannin." He said.

Gemini smiled and thanked Naruto before turning back to watch the bastard die in agony. She didn't have to wait long- he was dead within minutes. "Well, that's one less nightmare to deal with." She remarked dryly as the body stilled.

"Good. That's why I'm also going to be teaching it to your girlfriend as well. While I teach her the jutsu, I want you to work on Water Walking when we get back," he replied also adding in that he was going to have a clone with him to help show him what to do. Seeing the glare on his face, he chuckled lightly. "I swear that I will do nothing perverted to your girlfriend Gaki, trust me."

"And if he does, then I'll be the first one to beat him into the ground. Trust me?" she asked.

Calming down slightly, Gaara turned towards Gemini. "You alright?" he asked in a rare moment of caring. Granted, he'd only do this with Gemini, but that was besides the point.

Naruto crossed his arms but nodded. He didn't trust the old man, but he did trust Yugito. "Okay...just make sure you go for the groin, Kitty-chan." He said.

Gemini turned to him and nodded. Though she was making a valiant effort to smile, tears streaked down her face and she stepped forward to hug the redhead. "I don't think I've ever cried this much in all my life. I don't understand it. I hate him. I hated him. But I'm crying. Why do I feel sad, Gaara-san?" She didn't really expect an answer, but she needed to voice the question.

Yugito giggled as she heard Naruto speak, turning into laughter at the scowl on the old man's face. "Gladly and duly noted Foxy-kun," she said with a smirk. She had a feeling that as long as the old man did his job correctly, then he had nothing to worry about. Though she was curious as to what Naruto would be learning while she was learning the Kage Bunshin.

Gaara was unsure as to what to do, but hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. He didn't know how to answer that question, having a feeling that his sister would be able to help more so than he could at the moment...

Naruto smiled at her laughter, and nodded. "Alright, teach me what you're gonna teach me. I wanna get on with my training already!" He exclaimed excitedly.

Gemini stayed there for a few moments, allowing herself just a small bit of time to be vulnerable, before pulling away gently. Sniffling, she managed to stop her tears. "Th-thanks. C-could you do me a favor and never mention to anyone how much I cry? I do have a reputation." She said.

"Alright alright," Jiraiya said chuckling lightly. He was as bad as Minato and Kushina when it came to learning new things. It was this drive that had Minato perfecting the Hiraishin and making everyone believe that he had created it several times in the past. Making a clone, he took Naruto towards a small stream before the clone jumped over and onto the water. "First things first. I know that you know the Tree Climbing exercise, well this exercise is to help you continue with homing your chakra control. I want you to get a feel for it first and then you can have a few clones continue working on it," he said.

"You have a reputation?" Gaara asked with his head cocked to the side.

Naruto watched carefully, then nodded. "Okay, got it!!" He said, and ran out onto the water. Or rather, into the water, since instead of walking on it he fell right in. Coming up for air, he coughed and sputtered. "Hey, it didn't work, dattebayo! Tell me how you did that!" He demanded, irked that he hadn't gotten it in the first try.

Gemini pretended to look offended. "Of course! I'm well known around the village as a tough girl. Everyone knows my past, and that I live under a bridge. They all figure I'm just super tough. I always hang out with guys, and I've even heard people say "oh she's just like one of the guys." I'm no cream puff like the other girls around here, and of course it helps that I'm one of the only two females in the whole village that isn't a Sasuke fangirl. No one has ever seen me cry before, Gaara-san. Not even Naruto-kun. Not even that bastard." She motioned tot he body. "Not one single person. Except you."

"You said you got it Gaki, and you didn't let me explain anyways. Like the Tree Climbing exercise, you need to channel chakra to your feet. However, unlike the Tree Climbing, the water underneath your feet is always moving, always changing. Therefore, you need to work on making sure you keep a constant flow. Go with the flow, don't fight it."

"I see...so that means I could blackmail you with this information, couldn't I?" he asked as a shock looked appeared on Gemini's face. "Don't worry, I won't do that Gem-chan, I...I swear it. Though I'm glad to have seen this side of you," he said sincerely, meaning every word of it.

Naruto frowned, getting out of the water. "You coulda told me that before..." He muttered mutinously. Channeling the chakra into his feet, he tried again, and managed to stay up for a moment before overbalancing and falling. "Dang it! It's harder than it looks..." The blonde got up and tried again, in true Naruto fashion.

Gemini was appalled, and just about to slap him for even suggesting such a thing when he swore that he never would. She relaxed slightly, then her eyes widened. "Oh my God. Did you just make a joke? Someone call hell I think they've had a blizzard!" She teased. She never figured Gaara for the joking type, but she was pretty damn sure he just had in his own dark way. She started to giggle, trying hard not to, but as is usually the case, trying not to only made it more funny. "You're a strange guy, Gaara-san. But a good kind of strange."

"I would have, if you waited to listen," the clone replied. Though he did have to admit, he liked the determination that his godson had.

Gaara grinned, glad that she was feeling better now, as that was his intent. "I think I just did make a joke Gemini-chan," he replied as the grin turned into a smirk, almost having a feeling that she would try hitting him for the remark. Hearing her call him a 'good kind of strange' he cocked his head to the side. "Um...okay?"

Naruto ignored the clone and kept trying. He didn't even use his own clones to help, he wanted to figure it out completely alone. It wasn't long before he did, and he was cheering and dancing on the water. "I did it! Hey, look Ero-Sannin, I got it!" He shouted.

Still giggling, Gemini smiled up at him. "It's a compliment. You're really cute when you smirk like that." The words just flew out of her mouth before she could think about them. Her hand jumped to cover her mouth, her eyes widening as she realized what she had said. Her face turned bright red. "U-um...hey, let's go get something to eat!" She said, determined to ignore her slip of the tongue.

An hour had passed and Yugito was still having a little trouble with the Kage Bunshin. She was told that it was similar to the Bunshin technique only that it required more power and chakra into it. She almost had it when a clone appeared for a few seconds before turning into a hazy smoke before popping with an electrical burst a few seconds later, causing her to hiss lightly in anger.

"I see this. Now that you've gotten the first step down, use your clones to get mastery of it. until you can consciously fight on top of water, you haven't mastered it. After that, I'll teach you a jutsu," he said, having a feeling that his drive to learning ninjutsu was as bad as Kushina's was, not that that was a bad thing.

"You...think I'm cute?" he asked, surprised before hearing her offering to get something to eat. If he didn't know better, then he could feel his cheeks starting to heat up. "Sure...food sounds wonderful" he replied, curious as to where they would go.

Hearing those last words, Naruto perked up and smiled. "All right! I'm gonna master this faster than you can even blink, dattebayo!" He shouted. With that, he created about twenty clones and had them all start practicing.

Gemini nodded. "Right, great. I know a wonderful little diner. My favorite pancakes ever are the ones they serve, and they've got some pretty decent cocoa as well." She said, walking away from the prison with a clear determination to look cheerful.

"Got it!" Yugito exclaimed in happiness once she finally had five clones appearing at once. She had to admit though that it was highly taxing on her reserves, though she did wonder how many clones were her limit. Though she was curious as to what she'd learn next from the old pervert.

"Then lead the way," he said before following her out of the prison. 'Good, she never has to deal with that bastard again,' he thought as he looked back at the prison for a few seconds.

Gemini hummed an aimless tune as they walked, feeling lighter than she had in ages. Somehow, she just knew that her nightmares of the old bastard would stop now. It didn't take long to get to the diner, a quaint little place on a quiet corner. It had the feel of a well loved family business, one that had been maintained for quite a long time. The smells of breakfast were tantalizing, and the few people sitting around seemed to be really comfortable. Gemini went to take a seat in the back by the window, smiling. "Oh, I love this place. I used to come here when I was little, after I stopped living with Naruto-kun. They gave me free food sometimes, and it always just felt like home. With my pay as a ninja, I eat most of my meals here now."

"It sounds as if they know you pretty well here then," Gaara replied, having a feeling that was the case, especially since they had given her free food in the past. He also had a feeling that she considered this place a secondary home as well, especially when he could see how relaxed she was at this diner she brought him to, glad to being a witness to this side of her once more. 'she looks so peaceful...just like when she sleeps,' he thought before taking a seat across from her before a waitress showed up.

"Gemmi! What a nice surprise to see you here; who's your friend?" The waitress asked as she saw the boy raise an eyebrow at the nickname.

Gemini nodded. "If I weren't a shinobi, I'd be working here. I actually helpout sometimes when it's busy." She said, before the waitress came over. "Oh, Hana-chan! I see you're back from vacation. This is Gaara-san. He's here during the chunin exams, and I'm showing him around. Gaara-san, this is Hana-chan, the best waitress here. So, Hana-chan, how was it over in the Land of Snow?" She asked curiously.

((Shoutout to team HANA!!))

(XD)

"It was quite beautiful in the land of snow Gemmi," Hana replied with a giggle. "It's a pleasure to meet you Gaara-san, and should I assume that you're her boyfriend?" she asked with a light grin, obviously teasing the vixen.

Gemini blushed and pretend hit the other girl's arm. "Hana-chan, don't do that to him! Gaara-san is a friend." She said, then leaned closer to the girl. "To be honest, I'm not sure he fully understands what a boyfriend even is. He's really innocent like that." She whispered conspiratorially.

After about fifteen minutes of training, Naruto dispelled his twenty-some clones and collapsed onto the ground beside the water. "I definitely got it down now, dattebayo!" He said proudly.

"An innocent boy...That actually exists?" Hana asked teasingly before bringing out her notepad. "I assume the regular breakfast for you then Gemmi?" she asked.

Jiraiya grinned as he saw both Yugito and Naruto accomplish their individual tasks. He was surprised to see that Yugito's Kage Bunshin were actually the Raiton: Kage Bunshin variant, and would comment on that a little later.

Gemini chuckled. "Well, not innocent in all things. Just in matters of the heart." She said, then nodded. "Oh yes. I need my stack of pancakes, or I shall surely pass out!" She said dramatically.

Naruto jumped up, suddenly re-energized. "Oi, old man! You said you'd teach me a new technique, so get to it already! I got the water thing down so now you have to, dattebayo!" He shouted excitedly.